topic-specific vocabulary Architecture

1 Put the w ords and phrases in the box into their appropriate category in the table beneath. Some
w ords or phrases can go into more than one category. Th e material in this m odule basically remains
the same, w ith the exception of the follow ing changes:

art deco concrete controversial elegant energy-efficient

an eyesore facade foundations functional glass
high-rise apartments high-tech international style
low-rise apartments modernist multi-storey car park post-modern
pleasing geometric forms porch practical reinforced concrete
skyscraper standardised steel stone timber traditional ugly
walls well-designed

B u ild in g m aterials A e sth e tic p e rcep tio n ( h o w w e feel a b o u t a

(6 w o rd s / phrases) b u ild in g )
(6 w o rd s / phrases)

Types o f b u ild in g A rch ite ctu ra l style

(4 w o rd s / phrases) (6 w o rd s / phrases)

Parts o f a b u ild in g Features (th a t m ake the b u ild in g e a sy to

(4 w o rd s / phrases) live o r w o r k in )
(4 w o rd s / phrases)

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 topic-specific vocabulary
Architecture
2 Complete these sentences w ith an appropriate w o rd or phrase from A , B or C.

1. Th e building i s ......................................................... It's been ruined and abandoned fo r years.

A . destabilised B. derelict C. d e fu n ct

2. She lives on a large h o u s in g ...................................................................................near the centre of th e city.

A . estate B. state C. estu a ry

3. Th e re are several ru n -d o w n districts inside th e city w h e re the housing is in a bad state, a lthough
most of th e s e ........................................................ are going to be replaced by high-rise apartments.
A . slum ps B. scrums C. slum s

4. Th e city council are goin g t o .........................................................the old church and built a n ew one in
its place.
A . dem obilise B. d e m o te C. dem olish

5. You can't knock d o w n tha t house; there's a ........................................................ order on it w hich makes
it illegal to destroy it.
A . preservation B. preservative C. presentable

6. Sir Richard Rogers is t h e ........................................................ w h o designed the Lloyds building in London.

A . architect B. architecture C. architectural

7. Some of the problem s in o u r ....................................................................................................are d ru g related.

A . inter-cities B. internal cities C. in n e r cities

8. T h e council hope to reduce crime in the to w n by introducing n e w ........................................................

facilities so tha t people have som ething to do in the evening.
A . sociable B. socialist C. social

9. Th e cinema is going to be closed for tw o m onths w hile the o w n e rs ........................................................it.

A . renovate B. rem onstrate C. reiterate

10. If you w a n t to add an extension to yo u r house, you w ill need ........................................................

permission from you r local council.
A. planning B. construction C. plotting

11. In the US, the gro u n d floor is called t h e ........................................................ floor.

A. basement B. first C. bottom

12. O n e w a y of creating m ore space in a house is to convert t h e ........................................................ into an

extra room .
A. attic B. ceiling C. roof

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topic-specific vocabulary Architecture
3 Complete this report w ith w ords and phrases from Exercises 1 and 2. In some cases, more than one
answer is possible, and you w ill need to change the form of one of the words.

Report from the director o f the West Twyford Town Planning Committee

T h e last year has been a busy one fo r the W est T w y fo rd T o w n Planning C om m itte e. O u tlin e d b elow
are a fe w o f the areas w e have concentrated on.

1. A pplications fo r 1.......................................... .............. permission fro m hom e ow ners w h o w a n t to

d evelop th e ir properties have increased by 50 per cent. How ever, m any of these hom es are historic
buildings and have 2.........................................................orders w hich p revent th e m fro m being altered
externally. A t present, w e can only a llo w ow ners to 3.........................................................the inside of
th e ir hom es (including installing central heating and im proved w all insulation).

2. Last sum m er w e invited several 4 .........................................................to design plans fo r the n e w council

offices on Peach Street. W e eventually chose Barnard, Jackson and Willis, a local com pany. It was
generally agreed th a t th e ir design, w hich included a grey tin te d 5.........................................................
6 at the fro n t o f the b uildin g, was the m ost aesthetically pleasing.
T h e y are currently in the process o f laying the 7 ...........................................................fo r the n e w building,
w hich w e understand is taking some tim e as the land must be drained first.

3. In response to a lot o f com plaints a b o u t the lack of 8 ......................................................... facilities in the

to w n , it was agreed at last m onth's m eeting th a t funds should be set aside fo r the construction of
a n ew sports centre and yo u th club.

4. Several 9 ......................................................... buildings w hich have been ruined and a bandoned for over
five years are to be knocked d o w n . In th e ir place, a n e w housing 10.........................................................
w ill be built. This w ill provide 20 n e w homes w ith in the next tw o years.

5. Everybody agrees th a t the n e w shops on the H igh Street are 11............................................................It is

certainly tru e th a t the y are very ugly and o u t of keeping w ith the oth e r buildings on th e street.
In future, w e must ensure th a t all n e w buildings are b uilt in a 12.........................................................style
so th a t th e y fit in w ith the older buildings a rou nd the m .

6. Th e re has been an increased crime rate in the 13......................................................... to the east of the
to w n . W e plan to dem olish these ru n -d o w n areas w ith in the next eight years and re-house the
residents in n e w 14.........................................................apartm ents in the Berkely Heath district.

In an a tte m pt to help th e e nvironm ent, w e are g o in g to make the to w n hall m ore

15.......................................................... W in d o w s w ill be d oub le-gla zed , walls and ceilings will be
insulated and w e will replace the current central heating system.

M y next report w ill be in tw o m onths' tim e. A n y b o d y w ishing to discuss these issues can contact me
on extension 287.

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